St Mary the Virgin's Church, Great Bircham

St Mary's Church, Great Bircham dates from the 12th-century, and is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in Great Bircham, Norfolk.[3]

St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Great Bircham
St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Great Bircham
St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Great Bircham
Location within Norfolk
52°51′42.3″N 0°37′42.8″E
LocationGreat Bircham
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
History
DedicationSaint Mary the Virgin
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I listed[1]
Designated5 June 1953
Administration
ParishThe Birchams and Bagthorpe
DeaneryHeacham and Rising[2]
ArchdeaconryLynn
DioceseNorwich
ProvinceCanterbury

History

The earliest parts of the church are the Norman tower dating from ca. 1200. The tower door is 12th century and the north door and Purbeck marble font date from the 13th century. The chancel is early 14th century and the nave mid 14th century. The chancel exterior wall is covered in cement render. The 15th century screen survives.

The church is noted for its box pews which date from 1850 and are decorated with poppyheads.

In 1939 the church sold a crimson cope of about 1480 given by Roger Le Strange in 1505 to the St Peter Hungate Museum in Norwich to fund repairs to the church.[4]

Parish status

The church is in a joint benefice with:

  • All Saints’ Church, Bircham Newton
  • St Mary's Church, Docking
  • St Mary's Church, Sedgeford
  • All Saints’ Church, Stanhoe
  • All Saints’ Church, Fring

Organ

In 1869 the church is recorded as having a barrel organ. A new pipe organ was installed in 1882 and was built by E Norman. It was restored in 1926.

The current organ dating from 1940 is by Gray and Davison and was originally in Emmanuel Church, Broad Street, Chesham, Buckinghamshire. It was moved to Great Bircham around 1998 and was installed by Kenneth Canter of Bury St Edmunds. A specification of the organ can be found in the National Pipe Organ Register.[5]

Bells

The tower contains a ring of 5 bells. Two date from the late 17th century and were cast by Charles Newman. The middle bell dates from 1878 by John Warner and Sons. The two heaviest bells are by Mears and Stainbank and date from 1923.[6]

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of St Mary  (Grade I) (1077807)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  2. "Great Bircham: St Mary the Virgin". A Church Near You. The Church of England. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  3. Wilson, Bill; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2002). The Buildings of England. Norfolk 2: North west and south. Yale University Press. p. 362. ISBN 0300096577.
  4. "A 400 year old cope". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. England. 19 May 1939. Retrieved 20 July 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "NPOR R00804". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  6. "Great Bircham, S Mary V". Doves Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
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